Dark Horse Tory MP Joins Race To Replace Boris Johnson

Tom Tugendhat, a former soldier and chairman of the Foreign Affairs Select Committee said it would be a "huge privilege" to replace Prime Minister Boris Johnson, Aleks Phillips reported for Daily Express.

Photo Insert: Former soldier and chairman of the Foreign Affairs Select Committee, Tom Tugendhat

It comes as the Prime Minister is facing uncertainty over his leadership as concern mounts over the outcome of an inquiry into the so-called "partygate" scandal and the Metropolitan Police investigation into the lockdown gatherings.

Speaking on Times Radio, the MP for Tonbridge and Malling said he had not been canvassing support, but "of course, you should have a go."

He said: "It would be a huge privilege. It's one of those questions that I know many people ask and some people, some of my colleagues are coy about and I don't understand why. I don't think you should be embarrassed to want to serve your country. I was very proud to serve my country in the armed forces and I got to the highest rank I could so that I could have the best effect that I could. And I was very proud to serve as a diplomat around the world."

Tugendhat has previously criticized the government's handling of the withdrawal from Afghanistan. On Friday, Daily Mail reported center-leaning Tories would back Tugendhat in a Tory leadership race. Reacting to the news, Mutjaba Rahman, managing director of Eurasia Group and a former Treasury economist, commented that Tugendhat was a "good dark horse candidate."

He added: "Highly rated. But would be quite something to win from outside Cabinet. Also as a Remainer. But good for him to have the guts to come out from the crowd."

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